Ben Murdoch-Masila

Last updated

Ben Murdoch Masila
OSTIIICeremony1 (Cropped2).jpg
Personal information
Full nameBenjieman Murdoch-Masila
Born (1991-02-07) 7 February 1991 (age 33)
Auckland, New Zealand
Height186 cm (6 ft 1 in)
Weight118 kg (18 st 8 lb)
Playing information
Position Second-row, Prop, Lock
Club
YearsTeamPldTGFGP
2010–13 Wests Tigers 5270028
2014–15 Penrith Panthers 60000
2016–17 Salford Red Devils 60220088
2018–20 Warrington Wolves 68210080
2021–22 New Zealand Warriors 2760024
2023– St. George Illawarra 350000
Total2485600220
Representative
YearsTeamPldTGFGP
2013–22 Tonga 161004
Source: [1] [2] [3]
As of 28 July 2024

Ben Murdoch-Masila (born 7 February 1991) is a Tonga international rugby league footballer who plays as a prop , second-row and lock for the St George Illawarra Dragons in the National Rugby League (NRL).

Contents

He played for the Wests Tigers and the Penrith Panthers in the NRL, and the Salford Red Devils and the Warrington Wolves in the Super League.

Background

Murdoch-Masila was born in Otahuhu, New Zealand and is of Tongan descent.[ citation needed ]

Playing career

Murdoch-Masila played junior football with Otahuhu Black. He undertook a scholarship with Wests Tigers at Keebra Park High School and was a member of the team that won the 2009 Arrive Alive Cup. [4] Murdoch-Masila weighed 150 kg when he arrived at Keebra Park, dropping 40 kg before he joined the Wests Tigers NYC team. [5]

Murdoch-Masila made his NRL debut in the first round of the 2010 NRL semi finals against the Sydney Roosters. [6] He is one of very few players to have made his first appearance in a finals match. [7]

In 2011, Murdoch-Masila made a further seven appearances, and may have made more if not for injuries. At the end of the season he was selected for the Junior Kiwis. [8]

A regular on the bench in 2012, Murdoch-Masila played in 20 games for the season and scored five tries, including a double against Parramatta. He also signed an extension to stay with the club until the end of 2015, with coach Tim Sheens saying, "There is no doubt Ben has enormous talent and potential. He is a strike weapon and can become a top line player of the game with the right kind of commitment to his training regime." [9]

Missing only one game, Murdoch-Masila was one of the most regular first grade players for Wests Tigers in 2013. He started the season playing from the reserve bench, but started in the back row in the last five games of the season. In April, Murdoch-Masila made his international debut, playing in the Pacific Rugby League International for the Tongan side that thrashed Samoa 36–4. [10] He was chosen to represent Tonga in the 2013 World Cup, but a leg injury in his first hit-up of the tournament saw him take no further part. [11]

On 30 April 2014, Murdoch-Masila signed a 1+12-year contract effective immediately with the Penrith Panthers, after being released from the final year and a half of his Wests Tigers contract. [12] Murdoch-Masila was a cult hero at Warrington Wolves, and has his own terrace song; ”1,2,3,4 Party on, Ben Murdoch-Masila, Party on - he's a Tongan hero, Party on, he never gives the ball away-ay”. He played in the 2018 Challenge Cup Final defeat by the Catalans Dragons at Wembley Stadium. [13] He played in the 2018 Super League Grand Final defeat by Wigan at Old Trafford. [14] He played in the 2019 Challenge Cup Final victory over St Helens at Wembley Stadium. [15] In round 1 of the 2021 NRL season, he made his club debut for the New Zealand Warriors in their 19–6 victory over the Gold Coast. He made a total of 11 appearances for the New Zealand club as they finished 15th on the table. [16]

On 1 January 2023, Murdoch-Masila signed a two-year contract with the St. George Illawarra Dragons. During round 2 of 2023 NRL season against the Gold Coast Titans, Murdoch-Masila made his club debut for the St. George Illawarra Dragons in the team's first win of the season against the Gold Coast. On 29 June 2023, Murdoch-Masila played his 100th game against the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks with the club losing 16–52 in their biggest ever loss against there arch rivals. [17] Murdoch-Masila played a total of 21 games for the club in the 2023 NRL season as they finished 16th on the table. [18] Murdoch-Masila played 14 games for St. George Illawarra in the 2024 NRL season as the club finished 11th on the table. [19]

International career

On 2 May 2015, Murdoch-Masila played for Tonga in their Polynesian Cup clash with Pacific rivals Samoa. During the 2015 season, he did not play any NRL games for the Panthers and was not re-signed beyond 2015. [20] On 17 October 2015, Murdoch-Masila played for Tonga in their Asia-Pacific Qualifier match against the Cook Islands for the 2017 Rugby League World Cup.

He played in every match of Tonga's historic charge to the semi-finals of the 2017 Rugby League World Cup, and set up a vital try in their shock win over New Zealand in the pool stage of the tournament. [21]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ben Hornby</span> Australian rugby league footballer

Ben Hornby is an Australian former professional rugby league footballer who played in the 2000s and 2010s. An Australia international and New South Wales State of Origin representative back, he captained the St George Illawarra Dragons of the National Rugby League from 2009 until his retirement in 2012. Hornby played his entire career with the Dragons, leading them to the 2010 NRL Premiership and becoming their most capped player since the formation of the joint venture club in 1999.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sika Manu</span> New Zealand and Tonga international rugby league footballer

Viliami Sikalamu "Sika" Manu is a former professional rugby league footballer who played as a second-row forward for Tonga and New Zealand at international level, being a member of the World Cup winning Kiwi team who beat Australia in the 2008 World Cup Final.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kevin Naiqama</span> Fiji international rugby league footballer

Kevin Naiqama is a Fiji international rugby league footballer who usually plays as a centre or winger for the Huddersfield Giants in the Super League and as a fullback or five-eighth for Fiji at the International level.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Martin Taupau</span> NZ & Samoa international rugby league footballer

Martin Taupau is a professional rugby league footballer who plays for the Brisbane Broncos as prop and lock and has played for both Samoa and New Zealand at international level.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Peta Hiku</span> NZ international rugby league footballer

Peta Hiku is a New Zealand rugby league footballer who plays as a centre, winger and fullback for Hull KR in the Betfred Super League, and New Zealand and the New Zealand Māori at international level.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Siliva Havili</span> NZ & Tonga international rugby league footballer

Siliva Havili is a professional rugby league footballer who plays as a hooker and lock for the South Sydney Rabbitohs in the National Rugby League (NRL). He has played for both Tonga and New Zealand at international level.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dallin Watene-Zelezniak</span> New Zealand international rugby league footballer

Dallin Watene-Zelezniak is a New Zealand professional rugby league footballer who plays as a winger or fullback for the New Zealand Warriors in the National Rugby League (NRL) and New Zealand at international level.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fa'amanu Brown</span> Samoa international rugby league footballer

Fa'amanu Brown is a professional rugby league footballer who last played as a hooker for the St. George Illawarra Dragons and has represented Samoa and New Zealand at international level. He played as a halfback, five-eighth and lock earlier in his career.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Albert Vete</span> Tonga international rugby league footballer

Albert Vete is a Tonga international rugby league footballer who last played as a prop forward for the Castleford Tigers in the Super League.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Delouise Hoeter</span> Tonga international rugby league footballer

Delouise Hoeter is a Tongan professional rugby league footballer who plays as a centre for the Brisbane Broncos in the National Rugby League (NRL).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Raymond Faitala-Mariner</span> NZ & Samoa international rugby league footballer

Raymond Faitala-Mariner is a professional rugby league footballer who plays as a second-row forward for the St. George Illawarra Dragons in the National Rugby League (NRL). He has played for both Samoa and New Zealand at international level.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Viliame Kikau</span> Fiji international rugby league footballer

Viliame Kikau is a Fijian professional rugby league footballer who plays as a second-row forward for the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs in the National Rugby League (NRL), and Fiji at international level.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sione Katoa (rugby league, born 1995)</span> Tonga international rugby league footballer

Sione Katoa is a Tonga international rugby league footballer who last played for the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs in the NRL.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Addin Fonua-Blake</span> NZ & Tonga international rugby league footballer

Addin Fonua-Blake is a professional rugby league footballer who plays as a prop for the Cronulla Sharks in the National Rugby League (NRL). He has played for both Tonga and New Zealand at international level.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tevita Pangai Junior</span> Tonga international rugby league footballer

Tevita Pangai Junior is an Australian professional rugby league footballer and former professional boxer who plays as a prop for the Dolphins in the National Rugby League (NRL). He has previously played for the Brisbane Broncos, Penrith Panthers, and Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs in the NRL and for Tonga and New South Wales at representative level.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Moses Suli</span> Tonga international rugby league footballer

Mosese "Moses" Suli is a Tonga international rugby league player who plays as a centre and winger for the St. George Illawarra Dragons in the National Rugby League (NRL).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Malakai Watene-Zelezniak</span> Australian rugby league footballer

Malakai Watene-Zelezniak is a former rugby league footballer who played on the wing. He played for the Penrith Panthers in two separate spells, and the Wests Tigers in the NRL.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Matt Eisenhuth</span> Australian rugby league footballer

Matt Eisenhuth is an Australian professional rugby league footballer who plays as a lock for the Penrith Panthers in the NRL.

Starford To'a is a professional rugby league footballer who plays as a centre for the Wests Tigers in the National Rugby League (NRL).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Asu Kepaoa</span> New Zealand rugby league footballer

Asu Kepaoa is a professional rugby league footballer who plays as a centre, winger and second-row forward for the Penrith Panthers in the National Rugby League (NRL).

References

  1. loverugbyleague
  2. Rugby League Project
  3. League Central
  4. "Ben Murdoch-Masila". weststigers.com.au. Archived from the original on 18 September 2012. Retrieved 29 September 2010.
  5. Jake Dew. "Weight loss turns Ben into big winner". goldcoast.com.au. Archived from the original on 6 April 2012. Retrieved 29 September 2009.
  6. Archived 6 July 2011 at the Wayback Machine
  7. Glenn Jackson (13 September 2010). "Rookie proves he's worth his salt in 100-minute blockbuster". Sydney Morning Herald. Archived from the original on 15 September 2010. Retrieved 29 September 2010.
  8. Junior Kiwis dominated by NYC Grand Finalists Archived 7 October 2011 at the Wayback Machine rleague.com, 5 October 2011
  9. "Ben Murdoch-Masila signs on until the end of 2015". weststigers.com.au. 31 August 2012. Archived from the original on 1 January 2013. Retrieved 19 September 2012.
  10. Adrian Warren (20 April 2013). "Tonga smashes Samoa in a chaotic league Test shutout at Penrith's Centrebet Stadium". Fox Sports. Retrieved 30 November 2013.
  11. Steve Mascord (30 October 2013). "RLWC: Scotland upset Tonga with late try". Border Mail. Retrieved 31 October 2013.
  12. "Panthers sign Ben Murdoch-Masila | NRL". Zero Tackle. 30 April 2014. Retrieved 1 October 2015.
  13. "Catalans Dragons beat Warrington in Challenge Cup final to make history". Guardian. 25 August 2018. Retrieved 5 November 2019.
  14. "Super League Grand Final 2018: Wigan 12-4 Warrington – as it happened". Guardian. 13 October 2018. Retrieved 5 November 2019.
  15. "St Helens 4-18 Warrington RESULT: Challenge Cup Final as it happened from Wembley". Mirror. 24 August 2019. Retrieved 1 November 2019.
  16. "Warriors farewell 15 players after return to New Zealand". www.foxsports.com.au.
  17. "Dragons cop worst ever beatdown from brutal Sharks as Hynes sends Origin message — 3 Big Hits". www.foxsports.com.au.
  18. "Hunt call that could define Flanagan era; glaring hole that must be filled: Brutal Review". www.foxsports.com.au.
  19. "The Mole's end-of-season review: 'Bullies' exposed as big-money Dragons forward called out". www.nine.com.au.
  20. "Panthers farewell departing players | NRL". Zero Tackle. Retrieved 1 October 2015.
  21. "Tonga stun New Zealand to top Pool B". 11 November 2017.